Interlocking display shelf arrangement

ABSTRACT

An interlocking display shelf comprising a quadrangular shelf member having a generally smooth perforate planar upper surface with a flange depending from the upper surface and forming a skirt around the shelf member. The male portion of a keyhole fastener is carried by the flange along one side of the shelf member and the female portion of the keyhole fastener is formed in the flange extending along an opposed side of the shelf member whereby a plurality of shelf members may be interlocked side to side to form a display shelf of any desired width. Each of the shelf members further includes bracket receiving channels along opposite edges thereof with the channels serving to locate and retain the shelf member on shelf supporting brackets.

United States Patent Mendenhall INTERLOCKING DISPLAY SHELF ARRANGEMENT [75] Inventor: Walter M. Mendenhall, Bedford Heights, Ohio [73] Assignee: Modern Display Plastics Inc.,

Cleveland, Ohio [22] Filed: Nov. 3, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 303,603

[52] US. Cl 108/64, 108/108, 108/114, 211/153 [51] Int. Cl A47b 57/00 [58] Field of Search 108/64, 108, 114; 211/153; 52/581, 582

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,596,663 5/1952 Duffy 108/64 2,975,908 3/1961 108/114 3,082,880 3/1963 Mapson 108/108 3,360,321 12/1967 Novales 211/153 3,513,786 5/1970 Kellogg 1. 108/64 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,422,251 11/1965 France 108/64 Primary Examiner-Paul H. Gilliam Assistant Examiner-Darrell Marquette [57] ABSTRACT An interlocking display shelf comprising a quadrangular shelf member having a generally smooth perforate planar upper surface with a flange depending from the upper surface and forming a skirt around the shelf member. The male portion of a keyhole fastener is carried by the flange along one side of the shelf member and the female portion of the keyhole fastener is formed in the flange extending along an opposed side of the shelf member whereby a plurality of shelf members may be interlocked side to side to form a display shelf of any desired width. Each of the shelf members further includes bracket receiving channels along opposite edges thereof with the channels serving to locate and retain the shelf member on shelf supporting brackets.

6 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures INTERLOCKING DISPLAY SHELF ARRANGEMENT This invention relates to display equipment and, more particularly, to an interlocking shelf arrangement for providing display shelves of varying widths.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide an interlocking display shelf arrangement which permits assembly of display shelves in any desired Width to meet the size requirements of the goods to be displayed.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a sec tional display shelf which may be readily assembled and disassembled.

Another object of the invention is to provide a display shelf which may be interlocked with other display shelves to provide a smooth continuous planar shelf surface that may be supported on conventional shelf supporting brackets and firmly retained in position.

Still another object of the invention is to provide interlocking display shelves which may be readily and inexpensively manufactured.

These objects, as well as others, are embodied in a display shelf which comprises a quadrangular shelf member having a generally smooth perforate planar upper surface and a flange depending from the upper surface to form a skirt around the side of the shelf member. The flange on the front and back side of the shelf member support components of a keyhole fastener with the flange on one side of the shelf having the male portion of the fastener and the flange on the other side having the female portion of the fastener whereby a plurality of these shelves may be assembled front to back with the male fastener on one shelf member being received and retained in the female portion of the fastener on the other shelf.

The display shelf constructed in accordance with this invention further contemplates a pair of spaced apart support bracket channels formed in the undersurface of the shelf member with the support bracket channels being adapted to receive conventional support brackets therein. These support bracket channels serve to position the shelf member on the display equipment and re strain the shelf from lateral movement.

These objects and features as well as others will be more apparent from the following description which, together with the attached drawings, discloses but one form of the preferred embodiment.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference numerals indicate like parts in the various views:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a display shelf constructed using the interlocking display shelves of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view along line 22 of FIG. 1;

Hg. 3 is a top plan view of one of the interlocking display shelves;

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view, partly in section, of the shelf of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of one lateral edge of the shelf of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 6 is a view along line 6-6 of FIG. 1.

Referring now more in detail to the drawings. there is illustrated in FIGS. 3-5 an interlocking display shelf, indicated generally by the reference numeral 10, and which comprises a shelf member having a generally smooth planar upper surface 12 with the shelf member being quadrangular in shape. The upper surface 12 may have a plurality of perforations or openings 14 formed therein.

Depending from the sides of the shelf member is a flange which extends entirely around the shelf member to form a skirt. For purposes of description, the flange may be considered to be made of a front flange 16a, a back flange 16b and side flanges 16c, 16d. Also depending from the undersurface of the upper surface 12 is a grid work of reinforcing ribs 18 which provide additional'strength for the shelf member.

In accordance with this invention, each of the front and back flanges 16a, 16b includes one portion of a keyhole fastener. As shown in FIG. 3, the back flange 16b has equally spaced therealong projecting studs 20 which comprises the male portion of a keyhole fastener. The front flange 16a has an equal number and equally spaced keyhole-shaped opening 22 which comprise the female portion of a keyhole fastener.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 4 and 5, there isformed in each lateral side edge of the shelf member a bracket receiving channel 24. This channel may be formed by merely forming cut outs or recesses in the flanges 16a, 16b with one of the reinforcing ribs 18 forming the inner side wall of the channel and the side flanges 16c, 16d forming the outer side wall. In addition, at the forward end of the channel 24, a wall member 26 may be positioned to provide a recess 28 for a purpose therein after to be described.

Shelves constructed in accordance with the foregoing may be used in the manner illustrated in FIG. 1, wherein conventional wall brackets 30 are secured to any conventional support such as a display stand. These wall brackets are adapted to cooperate with shelf support brackets 32 which may be adjustably positioned along the brackets 30 in a manner well known in the art. As shown in FIG. 1, a pair of shelves 10 are positioned on the brackets 32. This is accomplished in accordance with this invention by assemblying the two shelves together front to back (FIG. 2) with the stud portion 20 of the keyhole fastener along the back edge of the front shelf being inserted in and retained in the keyhole openings 22 in the front edge of the rear shelf. In this manner, the two shelves are connected to provide a smooth continuous supporting surface of the desired width.

The two interconnected and interlocked shelves may then be positioned on the shelf supporting brackets 32 with those brackets being reeived in the bracket channels 24 formed in both shelves. The width of each bracket channel 24 is only slightly greater than the thickness of the brackets 32 so that, with the brackets in the channels, any significant lateral movement of the shelf relative to the brackets is restrained. Moreover, these bracket channels, by restraining lateral movement of the shelves, ensures that one shelf will not be moved relative to the other which might result in the two shelves being disconnected.

It is conventional to form brackets with an upturned projection or end 34 at the outer extremity of the support brackets 32. The shelf members 10 are designed to cooperate with this upturned end with the end of each bracket being received in an opening 28. In this manner, the upturned end restrains the shelf members from movement longitudinally of the brackets 32, while the manner in which the shelf cooperates with the sup- 3 port bracket provides a finished appearance to the assembled shelf.

As shown in FIG. 1, the shelf supporting brackets 32 are spaced apart a distance that is almost equal to the length of the shelf members 10. However, in some display equipment, the bracket spacings may vary. To render the display shelf usable with bracket bracings other than those which are equal to the length of the shelf, each shelf member may be provided with channels 36 (FIGS. 3 and 5) which are secured to the inner face of the front depending flange 16a. These channels provide spaces which have the same function as spaces 28 and into which the upturned ends of brackets 32 may be received to retain the shelf members in position on the brackets. lt will be appreciated that where the spacing of brackets 32 is such that the channels 36 are employed, the shelf brackets will be spaced inwardly from the channels 24 and the front and back flanges 16a, 16b will simply rest on top of the brackets 32.

While only a pair of channels 36 have been shown, each shelf may be provided with a plurality of such channels positioned at points corresponding to the most frequently used. spacings of support brackets.

It is contemplated that each of the shelf members will be fabricated from metal or any other suitable relatively rigid material. The brackets 32 may be of a conventional metallic construction or, if desired and as shown in FIG. 6, the brackets may be made in two pieces with the main body 32a of the bracket being made from, for example, plastic and the second portion 32b of the bracket, including the pin projections for cooperation with the support channels, being of metal.

While the invention has been described with reference to a specific illustrated embodiment, neither that illustrated embodiment nor the terminology employed in describing is intended to be limiting; rather it is in-.

tended to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. ln display equipment for displaying articles wherein the display equipment includes a pair of spaced apart support members and adjustable shelf support brackets adjustably connected to each of said support members and projecting therefrom with said support brackets having a shelf supporting surface, and shelf means extending between and resting on the shelf supporting surfaces of said shelf supporting brackets, the improvement comprising:

said shelf means comprising at least a pair of quadrangular shelf members, each of said shelf members comprising an upper surface with flange means depending from said upper surface along at least a portion of two opposed sides thereof, and male fastener means carried by one of said flange means and female fastener means carried by the other of said flange means, said male fastener means comprising a plurality of spaced apart studs projecting from said one flange means and said female fastener means comprising a plurality of spaced apart keyhole shaped openings formed in the other of said flange means, said pair of shelf members being interconnected with said male fastener means on one of said shelf members being received in thefemale fastener means of the other of said shelf members whereby said pair of shelf members are interlocked to provide a generally continuous planar surface; and each of said shelf members further including a pair of channel means formed in the undersurface thereof, each channel means having means adapted to straddle each side of a respective bracket support surface, with said support brackets being received in said channel means.

2. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said channel means includes wall means defining a recess at one end of said channel,

said shelf support brackets including an upturned end at the outer extremity thereof, with said upturned end being received in said recess.

3. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the flange means depends from said upper surface along each side of said shelf member, and

wall means including said flange means defining bracket receiving channels along two sides of said shelf member with said support brackets cooperating with said channels.

4. The improvement of claim 3 wherein said shelf support brackets include upturned ends at the outer extremity thereof and each of said shelf members includes recess defining wall means formed in the undersurface of said shelf members with said upturned ends of said support brackets being received in said recessed.

5. A display shelf arrangement for supporting articles comprising a plurality of quadrangular shelf members, each having a generally smooth plan upper surface;

flange means depending from said upper surface along at least a portion of two opposed sides of each shelf member;

fastener means carried by each of said flange means with said fastener means being adapted to cooperate with mating fastener means on other of said shelf members whereby the plurality of quadrangular shelf members may be interconnected and interlocked to form a shelf having a generally continuous upper surface of a desired width, said fastener means including male fastener means comprising a plurality of spaced apart studs on the flange means along one side of one of said shelf members and female fastener means comprising a plurality of keyhole slots on said flange means along the other side of said one shelf member with said male fastener means being adapted to cooperate with a mating female fastener to interlock the shelf members with their respective flange means in abutting engagement; and channel means formed in the undersurface along the other two opposed sides of each shelf member, the channel means of each shelf member being defined by recess means in the undersurface of the shelf member and being adapted to receive a shelf supporting bracket therein, each of said channel means extending the width of the shelf member and each of said channel means adapted to straddle each side of a respective bracket support surface.

6. The display shelf arrangement of claim 5 and further including a second pair of recesses formed in the undersurface of each shelf member and being spaced apart a distance different from the spacing of said pair of recess means defining said channels. 

1. In display equipment for displaying articles wherein the display equipment includes a pair of spaced apart support members and adjustable shelf support brackets adjustably connected to each of said support members and projecting therefrom with said support brackets having a shelf supporting surface, and shelf means extending between and resting on the shelf supporting surfaces of said shelf supporting brackets, the improvement comprising: said shelf means comprising at least a pair of quadrangular shelf members, each of said shelf members comprising an upper surface with flange means depending from said upper surface along at least a portion of two opposed sides thereof, and male fastener means carried by one of said flange means and female fastener means carried by the other of said flange means, said male fastener means comprising a plurality of spaced apart studs projecting from said one flange means and said female fastener means comprising a plurality of spaced apart keyhole shaped openings formed in the other of said flange means, said pair of shelf members being interconnected with said male fastener means on one of said shelf members being received in the female fastener means of the other of said shelf members whereby said pair of shelf members are interlocked to provide a generally continuous planar surface; and each of said shelf members further including a pair of channel means formed in the undersurface thereof, each channel means having means adapted to straddle each side of a respective bracket support surface, with said support brackets being received in said channel means.
 2. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said channel means includes wall means defining a recess at one end of said channel, said shelf support brackets including an upturned end at the outer extremity thereof, with said upturned end being received in said recess.
 3. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the flange means depends from said upper surface along each side of said shelf meMber, and wall means including said flange means defining bracket receiving channels along two sides of said shelf member with said support brackets cooperating with said channels.
 4. The improvement of claim 3 wherein said shelf support brackets include upturned ends at the outer extremity thereof and each of said shelf members includes recess defining wall means formed in the undersurface of said shelf members with said upturned ends of said support brackets being received in said recessed.
 5. A display shelf arrangement for supporting articles comprising a plurality of quadrangular shelf members, each having a generally smooth plan upper surface; flange means depending from said upper surface along at least a portion of two opposed sides of each shelf member; fastener means carried by each of said flange means with said fastener means being adapted to cooperate with mating fastener means on other of said shelf members whereby the plurality of quadrangular shelf members may be interconnected and interlocked to form a shelf having a generally continuous upper surface of a desired width, said fastener means including male fastener means comprising a plurality of spaced apart studs on the flange means along one side of one of said shelf members and female fastener means comprising a plurality of keyhole slots on said flange means along the other side of said one shelf member with said male fastener means being adapted to cooperate with a mating female fastener to interlock the shelf members with their respective flange means in abutting engagement; and channel means formed in the undersurface along the other two opposed sides of each shelf member, the channel means of each shelf member being defined by recess means in the undersurface of the shelf member and being adapted to receive a shelf supporting bracket therein, each of said channel means extending the width of the shelf member and each of said channel means adapted to straddle each side of a respective bracket support surface.
 6. The display shelf arrangement of claim 5 and further including a second pair of recesses formed in the undersurface of each shelf member and being spaced apart a distance different from the spacing of said pair of recess means defining said channels. 